Apparatus for treating cloth



June 22, 1937. WOODHEAD 2,084,367

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH Filed Nov. 24, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 NINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 22, 1937;

H. A. 'WOODHEAD APPARATUS FOR TREATING CLOTH I L15? INVENTOR TORNEYS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 June 22, 1937. H. A. WOODHEAD V APPARATUS FOR TREATINGCLOTH Filed Nov. 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTbfi fizzy E Wan/IliadATTORNEYS Patented June 22, 1937 PATENT (OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATINGCLOTH ,Henry AQWoodhead, Graniteville, S.'C. Application-November 24,1934, Serial No. 754,576

F 15 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationSerial No. 674,495 filed June 6, 1933, now Patent No. 1,982,720 datedDecember 4, 1934, and relates to apparatus for preshrinking cloth forthe purpose of substantially eliminating shrinkage in both weft and warpin subsequent laundering operations.

There have been several attempts to obtain a satisfactory process forproducing a preshrunk cloth. These methods of preshrinking consisted,for example, in wetting the cloth and permitting shrinkage to take placewhile the cloth was hung in loops from suitable frames; in imposing acertain crinkle on one set of yarns 5 by pulling out the opposite set ofyarns by means of a tentering frame or similar apparatus; or in affixingthe cloth to the surface of'a relatively thick carrier blanket while theblanket is flexed .to a convex position and subsequently flexing 20 theblanket to a concave position to diminish its surface and effect achange in the superficial dimensions of the web warpwise. However, allof these various methods have entailed numerous disadvantages both inthe operation of the 25 apparatus and in the characteristics imposedupon the fabric as is more fully discussed in my earlier application.

The speed of'the prior art apparatus, for example, was found to belimited thusproducing 30 preshrunk fabric at only a relatively low rate.

-Another important disadvantage of the prior art shrinking processes isthat they are incapable of carrying out the steps of sizing, shrinking,and finishing in one continuous unitary operation, 35 but rather thefabric must be sized, then dried, then again moistened and shrunk, andfinally, finished or set.

Among the disadvantageous imparted to the fabric has been an excessiveshrinking in one direction and substantially none in the oppositedirection. Furthermore, the control of the preshrinking imposed upon thematerial was difilcult to maintain, and incapable of producing apre-shrunk fabric in which 45 a result, an unsatisfactory productresulted, having undesirable characteristics in that it was not uniform,or capable of retaining its proshrunk condition; e

I have found that the shrinkage resulting from laundering operations isnot due solely to increased crinkle which may be induced in the warp orweft yarns but that it is also due to a physical rearrangement andreadjustment of 66 the yarns and fibers due tothe mechanicalcharacteristics.

equilibrium conditions had been obtained. As

working and reconditioning and flexing of the fabric in all directionswhile in its plastic condition during laundering. It is thisrearrangement of the warp and weft yarns which I obtain by mechanicallyworking the web rapidly and positively. e

My process for preshrinking is preferably car ried out after the usualpreliminary steps, such as singeing, removing the warp sizing,bleaching, dyeing, printing, mercering, drying, callendering-andpolishing, or other customary operations have been performed upon theweb so that no subsequent operation is necessary which might impair thefull advantages of the preshrunk condition attained. v

In accordance with the present invention the treated fabric is firstrendered plastic by moistening it, or preferably, by passing it througha sizing solution in which a final sizing is imparted to the fabric andas a result of which the web is rendered soft and plastic in preparationfor the subsequent steps of my preshrink- .ing process. The web is thenstretched weftwise to approximately'the width desired in the finalpreshrunk fabric and then, while its surface is restrained to preventformation of undulations therein, the web is forced by mechanicalworking and rearrangement of the component yarns, both warp and weft,into. a contracted and reconstituted condition of equilibrium in whichit is substantially immune to further contraction and rearrangement dueto the wetting and workpreshrunk condition attained by mechanicalworking of the web.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to overcome thedisadvantages of earlier pro- .cesses and obtain a preshrunk-fabricwhich is capable of retaining its preshrunk condition in subsequentlaundering operations.

Another object is,to provide apparatus that is relatively simple tooperate and which may be readily adjusted and controlled to varyv itseffect upon the web to impose a preshrunk condition thereon ascircumstances may requirel' One feature of the invention resides in theprovisionof an endless sectional band, comprising parallel travellingportions of the cord or the like, engaging the surface of the web forwill become apparent upon consideration of the following description andappended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in simplifled diagrammatic outlineof parts of a form of my preshrinking apparatus suitable for carryingout my process;

Figure 1a is a continuation of Figure 1 and shows other parts ofTheapparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view with certain parts omitted to more clearly showthe driving arrangements for the apparatus illustrated in Figures l andla;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the web compressing roll and part of thecompanion feed roll shown in Figure la;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 in Figure 3; i

Figure 5 is a view, partly broken away, along the line 5-5 in Figure 1a;

Figure dis a fragmentary view taken along the line 6-4 in Figure 1a;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic outline of a modified form of one part of myapparatus.

Referringv now more particularly to the drawings, there is indicated bythe dotted line In the centre line of a fabric or web which it isassumed has previously been subjected to processing, such as bleaching,dyeing, printing, calendering, etc., or combinations thereof. The web isdrawn from a truck or bin over an idler roll 2 into a cleaning device.In this cleaning device the fabric passes between brush rollers 3 whichremove dust, lint, loose threads, etc. from the surfaces of the fabricweb, this matter being carried away by a suction duct 4. From thecleaning device the web is drawn over an idler roll 5 to asizingapparatus comprising a vat or trough 6 containing a suitablesizing solution and provided with an idler roll I and presser rolls 8,9. The presser rolls may be driven by the main I The drive driving motorII for the apparatus. passes through suitable speed regulating mechanismsuch as a Reeves variator as indicated at |2 in Figure 2 and passes tothe rolls by means of a chain l3 operated from the variable speed shaftII of variator l2.

In passing through the sizing solution, which may be of starch, dextrin,gums or soluble oils customarily used in' finishing operations, the webis moistened and converted 'into a plastic, soft condition so that it'may be readily worked upon in passing between a compressing roll 30, and

a feed roll 3|, Fig. 1a, to which it is directed after passing through atensionirig frame 20 and over apparatus 40 for stretching the webweftwise. The stretching apparatus-is, preferably,

positively driven from the constant speed shaft of variator I 5 by achain 4|. The tensioning frame 20 has fixed guide rolls 2|, 22 andanintermediate movable compensator roll 23 that acts to take upslack inthe 'web, the weight of roll 23 acting to stretch all the goods tosubstantially the same degree so that goods of 24 and an associatedendless chain 25 to which one end of the shaft of compensator roll 23 isconnected. This sprocket and chain arrangement is duplicated at theother side of the tensioning frame so that lowering or raising of eitherend of the shaft of roll 23, as web slack accumulates or is taken 111),results in driving the chain 25 to effect a corresponding movement ofthe other end of roll 23. In this way the roll 23 is maintained on aneven keel to assure proper guiding of theweb and obviate sidewiseskewing thereof.

The shaft 26 which carries the lower sprocket wheels 24 is also providedwith an additional sprocket wheel 21 acting through a chain 28 andsprocket wheel 29 to move the control member ll of the variator |2inwardly or outwardly when roll 23 moves upwardly or downwardly,respectively, suitable mechanism being provided for converting therotary motion imparted by chain 28 into an axial movement of the memberIT. The inward or outward movement of the control member ll, in responseto the movement of roll- 23 as slack is taken up or accumulates, causesrelative axial movement ofthe discs l8 of the variator. This results inan increase or decrease in the effective diameter of the pulley likemember formed by the discs l8 of the variator with respect to theconstant speed pulley thereof in such manner that the associated belt orchain l9 drivesthe variable speed shaft M of the variator at anincreased or decreased speed for speeding up or slowing downtheoperation of the driven roll 9 of the sizing apparatus as web slackistaken up or accumulates. Thus, the movements as will be pointed outlater. I have indicatedin Figures 1 and 2 the use of curved expanderrolls 42, 43, 44, the outermost portions of the curve of each of theserolls being indicated by the reference characters 42a, 43a, and arespectively. I have indicated the web III by its center line as passingover the outer portions of the curve of these rolls. Other types ofstretching devices may be used in place -of these expander rolls, suchas, for example, driven or undriven belt expanders or driven edgegripping rolls acting as expanders. v

From the delivery end of stretching apparatus 40 the web passes tocompressing roll 30 and feed roll 3|, Fig. 1a, around which is directedan endless band 92 that forms a working surface against which roll30acts for compressing the web. An endless blanket 38 also directedaround roll 3| and guide roll 39 supports the hand 92 in its passagefrom rolls 30, 3| to a set of drying cans 93 with which band 92cooperates as will later be described. The drying cans 93 are drivenfrom variator |2a at the same rate as roll 3| by a chain 95.

The lower roll 3| is driven from the variable a oeasev speed shaft |4aof the main variator i zaby means of a chain l3. The constant speedshaft I of variator I2, from which expander rolls d2,

43, 4d are operated, also'is driven by the variable, 1

speed shaft i4a. of variator Ma through a chain 83 so that the feed,roll Si is operated at the.

same speed as the expander rolls, thus minimizing warp tension. The mainvariator |2a is'similar in construction to the variator l2 describedabovefand its constant speed shaft |5a is driven by motor through achain 81. Thus, the

- basic speed of the entire apparatuslmay be regulated by adjustment ofthe control member l'la of main variator |2a to regulate the rate ofoper ation of the variable speed shaft Ida thereof by.

motor The compressing. roll 30 shown herein, is simi-v lar. to one ofthe several forms described inmy earlier application and, as illustratedinFigures 3 and 4, is made up of a plurality of closely-posh tioned,thin, toothed discs 32 and intermediate spacers 33 fitted upon a shaft34 and-pressed tightly together thereon. The spacers 33 of roll 30 areslightly smaller in diameter-than, the discs 32'and thusiprovide shallowchannels between the discs. The discs 32 may be made of stainthe speedsof rolls 30, 3| to be readily varied, as

desired. As-illustrated herein, the shaft of roll 3| is provided with agear II which actuates intermediate gearing 12 to drive agear on theshaft 34 of roll 30. The gear 10 is of the change gear type beingremovable to permit substitutionof' other gears. for obtaining a desiredratio between the speeds ofrolls and 3|.

I also utilize, in conjunction with compressing roll 30, a-multi-partretaining band 45,,extending from roll 30 to a roll 46, positivelydriven by the chain 41 at the same surface velocity as roll 3| and drierband 92 and positioned to cause the band 45 to travel parallel to band92 and in closely spaced relation thereto so as to confine the webbetween it and the band 92 during the passage of the web through thecompressing and, retainingzone. Referring also toF'igure 5,, the

retaining band 45 which is atleast as, wideas the web, comprises a pairof continuouscords 48, 49 made of any toughmaterial not unduly softened.by wetting and having good wearing qualities. Each cord passes a numberof times,

in contiguous, parallel I portions, through the I shallow groovesbetween the discs -.32 of roll 3|) through corresponding alignedperipheral 4 cord cleaning device 52. Eachofthe pair of' cords alsopasses in a single reach aroundtensioning grooves in roll 45, and;OVELJIOIIS: 50; 5| of a devices 53, 54 individual thereto.

border that the arrangementof the pair of cords comprising band45 mayvbe-clearly understood, the various,.pass ages of one of the. cords jwillbe described in detail. The cord 48 for ;ex-.-

' ample, extends downwardly, infasingle reach 431;.-

i'rom the fixed idler: mu 5,5 of-its-tensioning de vice 5.3 ein ttheputermost gropve; 1. 5 thei eitleft half of roll 30.

at or near the middle of roll 30,co'rd 48 passeshand half orcompressing, roll 30, into retaining contact with th e upper surface ofthe web and into the outermost groove at the left of roll 46. From theroll dlijco'rd 58' extends upwardly around an idler roll .56 andacross'therolls 5|],

5| of cleaning device '52,'in frictional contact therewith. The rolls.50, 5! are positively driven in opposite directions and partiallyimmersed in a. cleaning bath which is constantly changed through inletand outlet connections 51, 58 respectively, to the. vat ,59, so that therolls 50, 5| rubbing against the cords o'fband 45, remove lil therefromany sizing or lint, for example, which may have been picked up bycontact with the web. 5 Thus, the cords being continually'cleaned aremaintained free of an accumulation of sizing, for example, that mightclog the grooves or teeth of roll 30. Further, they are thus kept in anevenly moist condition and their expansion:

or contraction, therefore, minimized.

Cord 43 then travels over idler roll 60 and thence downwardly to thesecond groove at the left of. compressing roll 30, through the,corresponding groove in roll 46 and thence again across the cleaningrolls 50, 5|. The circuit of cord 48 around rolls 30,146 and across thecleaning device 52 is repeated as cord 48 passes through successivegrooves in rolls 30and 46,

the cord progressing inwardly from'left to right until it has passedthrough all the groovesin the .On leaving the groove 6| through thecorresponding groove in roll 46 and then upwardly in a single reach 48bto the fixedidler roll 62 of itstensioning device 53, withouttraversingthe web-cleaning device 52. In addition to the idler rolls62tand 55, tensioning device 53 comprises an intermediate fixedidlerroll 64 and a pair of rolls B3, 65 carriedby a member 66 provided withweights .6! which act to-takeiup slack in the cord 48. andmaintain.it-sufi'iciently tionsform a relatively rigid and firmsectional band. From roll 65-.thecord 48 is again directed.-

1 over idler 55 and downwardly again at 48a to the i outermost groove attheleft of roll 30 and the full circuit is continuously repeated.

The. circuit for cord 49 is'similar to that for cord 48 except that, inits downward reach 49a 3 a from the fixed idler 68, Figure 5, of-itstensioning "device 54, itinitiates its passages through. the V groovesof roll 30 at the outermost groove in the right-hand half of the rolland progresses inwardly towards' the left and, after passing through thecentral groove Gla, returns in a ,smgle'reach 49b to its .tensioningdevicev 54.

From the foregoing it may be seenthat. on

I passingto' the compressing roll 30, the web 1 0 is.

gripped byflthe teeth as of thehdiscs :2 of the roll that extendsbetween the cords 48, 49 of band taut so' that-its various parallellytravelling por- 45 .which is brought into contact with the upper surfaceof the web. As .the web and band 45 V to the nipbetween rolls 30 and 3|,thedrier band 92 is brought into contact .with theunderside of the webso that, in passing through .the

zone of contactbetween the teeth of roll 33 and 1 the band 3|, the. webis confined ,between' the band 45 and bandQZsoas to be carried forwardlywithout tension thereon. .As' a result 10f the that; at which, it wouldbe otherwise advanced 0 higher speed .of roll 30, the web, when grippedby its teeth, is carried forward at a faster rate than by,roll, 3|,- thewetted surface :of the-band s2 permitting. a slight lipp ge. 'f t w b Y'therecn. Thus, while band 45 bearing against the web and forming aweb-restraining zone with the band 92 exerts a restraining force thatacts to prevent flexing or crinkling ofthe surface of the web, roll 3!)acts to force the web forward into the zone where it is confined betweenband 45 and bafid'92 and works the cloth to effect a mechanicalreadjustment of the component yarns. The teeth 35 of roll on enteringthe cloth pass into and between the fibres of both warp an weft yarnstending to loosen them and exert a shoving action that positions theweft yarns more closely together and acts longitudinally of the warpyarns to shove them together into a fatter or thicker state, i. e. withincreased diameters, with the result that the web is contracted orcompressed warpwise. Thus, while the cord band 45 and drier band 92 forma retaining zone which prevents rumpling or crinkling of the surface ofthe web, the teeth of roll 39 act tocompress the web warpwise byexerting a shoving action on the fibres of both the warp and weft yarns.

The two cords 48 and 49 of retaining band 45, extending in singledownward reaches 48a and 49a, respectively, to grooves adjacent oppositeends of roll 39 become fully engaged therewith prior to contacting theupper surface of the web. In forming the contiguous, parallel-travellingsections 48 and 49 of the band, the cords progress inwardly toward themiddle of the roll and, after making their last traverse between. rolls30 and 4B inany one complete circuit, the respective cords leave theroll 46 from a groove near the middle thereof. ,As a result of thisarrangement, the selvages ofthe web do not become waved, crinkled orotherwise marked. At all points over its surface the web is fully andcompletely retained and no surface undulations are allowed toform. Byremoving the cords 48 and 49 from contact with the web at or near themiddle of the Web, no slack in the cords is present at the selvages tocause crinkli'ng or marking of the edges of the web.

The web is carried forwardly from rolls 39, 3!

between the bands 45, 92 which support and hold the web so that warpwisetension is not placed thereon and surface undulations inhibited. Aplurality of spring fingers 36 carried by a transverse bar 31, Figure 6,extend beneath roll 46 between the cords of retaining band 45 and act topress the web and band 92 against a supporting roll 69. The restrainingforce exerted on the web it! by fingers 36 and their positionsrelatively to roll 46 may be regulated by providing for adjustment ofbar 31 as more fully disclosed in my copending applicationSerialNo.754,575, filed Nov. 24, 1934. The fingers extend beyond roll 46substantially into the nip of an idler roll 96 around which a seconddrier band 91 is directed into engagement with the upper surface of theweb so that although band in passing around roll 46 is drawn out ofretaining contact with the web, the latter continues to be held againstband 92 in such manner as toprevent undulations in its surface.

In passing over the heated drums 94 of drier 93 the web is supported bythe bands '92, 91 and thus dried and set in its treated conditionwithout being subject to further strain. After passing around an idlerroll 98, at the end of the series of drying. cans, the bands separateand the web is carried by one of them to an oscillating device 99 whichfolds the finished preshrunk fabric into piles in the bin l99.Tensioning devices llll and the weft threads.

weftwise of the web. The amount of, such I02, similar to the tensioningdevice 20 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, are provided for the bands 92,91, respectively, and suitable guide rolls I03 and I94 direct the bandsback to the rolls 3| and 96.

The speed regulating variators through which the several parts of myapparatus are operated from motor ll permit a close regulation andcontrol of the relative operating speeds of the'several parts so thattension on the web may be minimized in order that the preshrunkconditions attained in the several stages may not be diminished as theweb passes through the apparatus,

I preferably carry out my preshrinking operations as part ofthefinishing operation upon a fabric, and although with certain conditionsand types of fabric the operation may be carried out while the fabric isin a dry condition, I prefer to haveit in a. plastic condition. I fabricpermits it to be more easily adaptable 'to the mechanical Working whichI impose upon it for effecting a rearrangement of the component yarnsand fibres to thus attain a preshrunk con- Plastizing the I dition inwhich the yarns are in a state of substantial equilibrium, While thefabric may be processed in a wet condition resulting from somepreliminary operation, or may be made plastic by merely moistening it, Ihave illustrated and described my preshrinking operation as cornmencingby passage of the iabric through the through adjustment of variator i2by an at-' tendant.

The rate of operation of the expander 49 may be varied and regulated bymeans of the variator l2a to take up the web from roll. 22 atsubstantially its rate ofdelivery by rolls 8, 9 so that.

it is not subjected to warp tension in being carried forwardly by theexpander rolls 42, 43, 45.

The web after passing between the control rolls 8 and 9 may be found tohave the desired width in which case it can be delivered directly to theworking roll 30. If, however, the web is found to have a greater widththan desired, it may be reduced weftwise by imposing a tension on itwarpwise between the control rolls 8 and 9 and the working roll 30.

It is assumed herein that, asa result of being drawrr'out warpwise inprevious processing operations, the weftwise dimension of the web hasbeen decreased, as is usually the case, and. therefore, in its passagethrough the expander 49, I cause the web to be drawn out weftwise toapproximately the width which I have found will be present in a fabricwhich has been properly preshrunk in two directions. The tensionofpassing the web l0 through the equipment subsequent to plasticizingtends to impose a warpstrain on the web and thus tends to straighten outthe warp threads and induce a crinkle in This results in a shrinkageshrinkage weftwise I can control by means of my tensioning mechanism 29.Ialso can control this weft shrinkage by varying the differential inmize the tension on .-For example, t theloss in-vewidthfin transiferrinw the: r011:-ece SErOunrr tote' abouts-10%;

bandSL-L, a

zone betweencompression 3 11: 3

I andr'the webis preferably taken up at the workingzonecaiisubstantiallyits rate of delivery trom'ex 8 4111111 9 dn one'-liand, and the toothe'd compres- 4 sioztroll'flll. example; it; ispd's'sibleitb i'dril l' speed asto makeu 8' im'd il':riverand above the=normal w'a tension on' the tifebinfproces" 'si'ng" On theothei handfiIcan drive' the "-rons: s: and s es a greater surface velocit'y than theroll SO andthus the web-betweefistretching-means fillfandfreniove that'portidfi-"offf wert snrinkag'ewhiehr desire? rhat i'si rsti eteh theweIt-macE the- 'desire'd width normally present in the final preshrunkmaterials. weft stretching should be carried out to' deliver the web tothe toothed ompressipn rbn at Fthat width=-'-wl1'icl'1' have found willbe {present in a asgbeenp opeflytresmunii iii we or; example; ayardoe'grey materi 1" which"had an brigirial 'wovenfwidth of 3-1 may have a-width 'of 611131 27uponj delivery-to the I plished by always suppo tingtn v is in a final -seficonditioh rormar ti and eliminating all warpwisetension- 'There'mayabe; of coursefia j rtain los s in the weftot theafter its charge min the expanding-imeansrm due' *to h warp nsion thus :which be-"impo'sed upon "the material t6 pun;

it through such "-equipmenii'fii 'the latter not driveni 'l'his losscanbe taken ieare or by ever stretching -widthanfamount' equal to the subsequent loss in width ace to the' ai te'risio fabric may theov'erstr'etched an 'aequivaien amount and thus a desired-widthv of the webob-" taine'cl ion the supporting surface 'Iormed b On 3leaving= theexpander lil the passes tb and: drier band -92, which-is advanced*oy-roni '31 pander Ml.

webzehters the nip between rolls!!! and 3 l ,''-the: teeth35 of roll oncome into contact with the web at an angle to its surface and areforced'into the web? and pnetrate its surface. 'l'he teeth-are that they tendto operate not only upon r the individualweft yarnsbut. also actuallyenter'betweenthe fibres making warp :yarnsm; As? may be seen from theenlarged "view of the toothed discs 32 in- Figure 3;tlie

' traction'ofekpansi'on either warpwise or weft wise-' rs'ulting frommechanical working of the weir-in the antecedent preshrinkingoperations. Consequently, when delivered from the drying -cans, afterbeing ,set and "dried therein, the vweb hasattained a preshrunkcondition in which its in view or the' fact that the ion as" istravellin -iaster thah "the" web is advanced by the band 92 that extendsaround roll 3! there is'a'consequent shoving td'getlierof the fibres ofthe'warp yarns ajs' w'ell i coinpacting -operation on the weft 5 yarns=tlia ares-ripped .by the teeth;- Inasmuch sh6ving andcompactingoperation is' came "unsure sectional retaining ba'ndAS Webjag'ainst band 92on roll 3| acts v dulations in its surface, there'isa 1oadjustment and repositioning of yarns of the web, asdistinguishedcrinkling of the surface of the web,

e e5 is actuallycompressed-and con tijac'ted warpwis to a stateapproximating its optimum hiiinkcondition.

{is carried forward to the drier 7 g" band and dried band 92,

' I same speed it is delivered to the set of; dryin cans and advancedtherethrough., 2

s 92 and 91. without being subon tending'to detract from the 1m essingtough the drier, the bands 92591- al ontact'the surfaces of the drums 94nce tliefradius between the centre of a fan eith lband is slightlygreater when. n" is not in contact with-the drum, due totheconipre'ssion between the two bands is negligible sothat theweb,'which i's notunder' tension, isj'fr H at point to either contractor expand a s -firs; V v 1 1 natural contraction 'or' e nsion or the webiri-passing between the two supporting and fleiring'j ands!!! and 91 andaround the drying 94 may; [taken advantage of to efl'ect a y nn 0edfpreshrinking step of my process toco pensate'for any slight over orunder con-5 w coiniionentyarns are in a state of substantial equilibriumand immune-to further contraction either warpwise'or weftwise when thefinished fabric is subjected to a subsequent laundering opemfipni, g I vIn-Figure '7, I have shown a modification of my apparatus suitable forcarrying out my preshrliikliiigtoperation. The web l0 may bedeliveredi'rorn the weft stretching or expanding means indicated by thereference character 40a to the nip-between a roll 30:: and a roll Sla.The roll -3Ia esponds generally to the feed roll 31 of Flg'ureda' "d theroll 30:; is preferably a roll operation to'the'w'eb-working roll 30."

passing between-these rolls is a supp g .75; I

surface 15 preferably of a type similar in operation to the supportingsurface 45 of Figure 1a so as to permit the roll 30a to operate on theweb through it. This supporting surface isdriven similarly to band 45,and is carried by suitable guide rolls 16, TI, 18, one or more ofwhich-may be positively driven. The supporting surface 15 comprises anendless cord, as more fully described in my copending application,Serial No. 674,495 filed June 6, 1933, extending in a plurality ofclosely spaced, parallel reachers around the rollers l6, l1, l8 andbetween the rolls 30a and 3! a. However, thesupporting surface IS m'ay,if desired, consist of a pair of endless cords fqrminga sectional band,such as the band45 described above in connection with Figures 1a and 3to 6. The supporting surface 15 carries the web in contact with the roll3|a in the zone 9. The surface 15 and the roll am,

as in my previous modification, travel at the same surface velocity andthe roll 30a travels at a somewhat greater surface velocity, dependingupon the typeof material being processed. Thus the cloth or web to isforced forward by the roll 30a faster than it is being carried away inthe zone 9. Also processing around the roll 3la is a band 19. This band19 against which the Web lies, may be of canvas, and supports it afterits delivery from the zone 9 and carries it over a guide roll whichpositions the canvas band and web H1 in close contact with the dryingdrum 8|. The web is supported by thecanvas band 19 and held in contactwith the drying drum 8| until it is set after which it is delivered fromthe drum and passes around the idler rolls 82, while still supported bythe canvas band 19, and is delivered to an oscillating means 83 whichfolds it in a bin 84. The band 19 is directed around a drying drum 85 bysuitable idler rolls and continues back around the roll 3la. It will benoted that by means of this arrangement the web is continuouslysupported at all points until it is set and delivered in a dry finishedcondition into the bin. There is thus no loss in the preshrunkcharacteristics which have been imparted to itduring its processing.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that due to the fact thatthe relative speeds of web delivering and take-up parts of the apparatusmay be closely controlled and driven and regulated through adjustment ofthe several speed regulating variatcrs i2, l2a either by an attendantor, if desired, automatically in response to the movements of tensioncontrolling rolls, the web travels through my preshrinking apparatuswithout tension being imposed thereon as a result of its movement,except when it is actually desired to impose tension as part of mypreshrinking process as mentioned above.

In carrying out my process, as'described above,

.the web is first moistened and rendered plastic in a'fina-l sizingoperation. The weft-wise dimension desired in the final preshrunk fabricis then obtained by a weft-wise stretching on the expander rolls orsimilar device. The web is then worked by a toothed. compressing roll toeffect a warp-wise contraction of the web approximating the optimumcondition of the final preshrunk fabric. In passing from the compressingand contracting stage to and through the drying cans, where it is setand dried, the web is free of tension since it is continuously supportedand carried by either one or two travellingbands. In passing .throughthe drying cans the flexing and sliding of a drier band relatively tothe web causes the web to be maintained free from adherence to the band.While not compressed agaRt the band in advancing from one drying drum toanother the web is free to contract or expand naturally to acondiparatus in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the artman y changes and variations may be made without departing from thespirit oi the invention and, therefore, it is my intentionand desire toinclude all such changes and variations-within thescope of the appendedclaims.-

I claim:'

1. An apparatus for imposing a preshrunkcondition on a fabric webcomprising; means for r wetting the web whereby it is rendered plastic;

web working means having a plurality of web-' penetrating projectionsfor gripping and work-'- ing the web to readjust the positions of itscomponent yarns and effect awarp-wise compression of the web; a feedroll closely adjacent said work-roll; an endless band directed aboutsaid feed roll and forming a working surface on which the web issupported and against which said working means operate in compressingthe web; and means for drying and setting the web in its preshrunkcondition, said band cooperating with said drying means to advance theweb therethrough and continuously supporting said web in its passagefrom said working means to and through said drying means topreclude theimpositionof warp-strain on said web for obviating diminishment of thepreshrunk condition imposed on the web by said working means.

2. An apparatus for imposing a preshrunk condition on a fabric webcomprising; means for wetting the web whereby it is rendered plastic;web working means having a plurality of webpenetrating projections forgripping and working the web to readjust the positions of its componentyarns and effect a warp-wise compression of the web; 'a feed rollclosely adjacent said work-roll; an endless band directed about saidfeed roll and forming a working surface on which the web is supportedandagainst which and forming a workingsurface which the web .15supported with one surface in contact therewith and against which saidworking means operate in compressing the-web said-band continuouslysupporting the web in its passage from said-working means to saiddrying'means; a

second hand cooperating with said drying meansto advance the webtherethrulghyand means' for directing a said second band into engagementwith the opposite surface ofthe web sub sequent to its delivery fromsaid working-means,- whereby said web is continuously supported as it isadvanced to and through said dryingmeans to preclude imposition ofwarp-strain on the web to obviate diminishment of the prcshrunk-condition imposed on the web.

3. An apparatus for a fabr ic web y I comprising; means for wettingthewebi whc'rv by, it is rendered plastic; web working mea'ns' fabricoperating "adj having a plurality of, web-penetrating projections forgripping andwo'rking the web to readjust the positions of its componentyarns and effect a warp-wise compression of the web; a

feed roll means for drying and Setting the web in itspre-shrunkcondition; closely adjacent said work-roll; a band cooperatingwith said drying means tocontinuously support and advance' to andthrough said"drying means said band extending about said feed rollandforming a working surface on whi'ch-ftheweb is supported with onesurface in contact therewith, and against which said working meansoperate in compressing theweb; a secondhand;cooperating with said dryingmeans to advance the web therethrough; means fordirecting'said secondband into engagement with the opposite surface of the web subsequent toitsfde 'livery from said working means, wherebysaidfw eb is advancedthrough said drying mear sfcontinuously, supported by said'bands to'preclude' imposition of 'warp-strain on the web and'obviatedimini'shsaid grippingune'an'sjan ting the fabric, one-ofporting the fabric co" sage from 'said gri fabric setting means,

5. In a fabric treating apparatus suitable for modifying the superficialdimensions of said fabric; rotating means for gripping and peneg "meansthrough said .trating the fabric, fabric retaining means engagingopposite sides of said fabric and acting with and subsequent to saidrotating means, and heated means for setting the dimensions of saidfabric, one of said fabric retaining means extending continuously fromsaid rotating means into said heated means.

'6. An apparatus for preshrinking a fabric web comprising; meansforwetting the web whereby it is rendered plasticj web working means havinga plurality of spaced rows of web-penetrating projections for grippingand working the web to readjust the positionsof its component yarns andeffect a warp-wise compression of the web; a feed 'roll closely adjaentsaid work-roll; an endless band directed about said feed roll andforming Y a working surface on which the web is supported and againstwhich said working means operate in compressing 'the web; a plurality ofspaced members extending between the rows of webpenetrating projectionson said working means into engagement with the surface of'said web andcooperating with said band to form a web confining zone in which surfaceundulations of the web are prevented; heated means for drying the web inits preshrunk condition; and means for directing said band intocooperative relation with 'said drying means for continuously supportingsaid web in its passage from said working means V to and through saiddrying means to preclude the imposition of warp-strain on said web forobroll.

viating diminishment of the preshrunk condition imposed on saidweb bysaidworkin'g means.

" 7; In a fabric treating apparatus for modifying the superficialdimensions ofafabric; gripping means for working within the body of thefabric;

and retaining means operating immediately subsequent and adjacent tosaid gripping means,

operative to, prevent surface flexure of said fabric delivered from saidgripping means and acting to continuously support #and confine saidfabric; and heated means for'drying and setting said fabric while stillretained by said retaining means.

8. An'app'aratus for treating a fabric web to impose a preshrunkcondition thereon comprising;"-webfeedi ng means; web-working meanspositioned adjacent said feeding meansi'andprovided with 'a' pluralityof web gripping projections; a pair of endless cords each having. aplurality of contiguous sections extending throughjadjadent spacesintermediate-said rows of projections on said web-working means; andmeans "for guiding said'cord-sect'ions for movement parallel to a eachother toform an endless, sectional, webf retaining band, said cordguiding niean'sfbeing positioned adjacent said web-feeding meansforcausing'said sectional band to travel parallellto and} closelyadjacent said web-feeding meansfor holdingj the through sucgssivefig-rooves toward the middle of said roiis and returning fromcentral grooves in 's'aid rolls to the grooves at opposite ends thereofso as to continuously travel between said rolls in a plurality ofparallel portions extending between aligned grooves in said rolls forforming contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of 1 said band.

10. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a pair of rolls eachformed with a plurality of circumferentlal grooves; and an endless,travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls and engageablewith a surface of said web comprising a pair of endless cords eachhaving a plurality of portions extending in parallel relation betweenaligned grooves in said rolls to form contiguous,

parallelly-travelling sections of said band, the

respective cords initially entering grooves adjacent opposite ends ofone of said rolls prior to engaging the surface of said web, andin'successive traverses between said-rolls for forming said band,progressing inwardly toward the middle of said rolls to finally leavesaid other roll from adj acent grooves at the middle of said roll toreturn to the outer grooves at opposite ends of said one 11. In anapparatus for treating a fabric web; a. pair of rolls each formed with aplurality of circumferential grooves; an endless, travelling, sectionalband associated with said rolls and engageable with a surface of saidweb, said band comprising a pair of endless cords each having aplurality of portions extending in parallel relation betweenaligned-grooves in said rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travellingsections of said band, the respective cords initially entering g Vinwardly grooves adjacent opposite ends of one of said rolls and, insuccessive traverses between said rolls for forming said band,progressing inwardly toward the middle of said rolls. to finally leavesaid other roll from adjacent grooves at the middle of said roll toreturnto the outer grooves at opposite ends of said one roll; andindividual slack take-up devices engaging the respective cords in theirrespective passages from the grooves at the middle of said other roll tothe related end grooves of said one roll.

12. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a pair of rolls eachformed with a plurality of circumferential grooves; an endless,travelling, sectional band associated with said rolls. and engageablewith a surface of said web, said band comprising endless cord having aplurality of portions extending in' parallel relation betweenalignedgrooves in said rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travellingsections of said band; and

means for cleaning the component cord sections of said band while thelatter is in motion. 13. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web:

a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of.

circumferential grooves; and an endless, travelling band associated withsaid rolls. and engageable with a surface of said web comprising a pairof endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending inparallel relation between I aligned grooves in said rolls to formcontiguous,

parallelly-travelling sections of said band; and' means for cleaning thecomponent cords of said band while the latter is in motion, said meansincluding a pair. of oppositely driven rolls in frictional contact withsaid cords.

14. In anapparatus for treating a fabric web;

a pair of rolls each formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves;an endless, travelling,

sectional band associated with said rolls and engageable with a surfaceof said web comprising a 1 pair of endless cords each having a pluralityof portions extending in parallel relation between aligned grooves insaid rolls to form contiguous, parallelly-travelling sections of saidband; and

means for cleaning the component cords of said band while the latter isin motion, said means including a pair of oppositely driven rolls infrictional contact with said cords and a vat containing a constantlychanged cleaning fluid in which said cleaning rolls are partiallyimmersed.

1 15. In an apparatus for treating a fabric web; a circumferentiallygrooved web-working roll; a circumferentially grooved band operatingroll; an endless, travelling, sectional band associated with said rollsand engageable with a surface of said web, said band comprising a pairof endless cords each having a plurality of portions extending inparallel relation between aligned grooves in said rolls, each portion ofthe respective cords initially entering grooves adjacent opposite endsof said working roll to pass to the corresponding-grooves in said bandroll and progressing inwardly throughsuccessive grooves in said rollstoward .the middle thereof to form contiguous, parallellytravellingsections of said band, the respective cords passing from the grooves atthe middle of said band roll to return to the related grooves atopposite ends of said working roll; means'on said working roll extendingbetween the several sections of said band for gripping and working saidweb; and meansfor cleansing each portion of the respective cordssubsequent to contacting said web in traversing aligned grooves in saidrolls and prior to again contacting said web in traversing the nextsuccessive grooves in said rolls.

HENRY A. WOODHEAD.

